Still an important special teams battle ongoing at Minnesota
Due to an injury to Zack Annexstad early in training camp, Minnesota’s quarterback situation was determined early in August. But there’s still a pretty important battle going on in Dinkytown.
Kicker.
So far, the Golden Gophers are still uncertain on who will serve as the team’s placekicker entering the 2019 season. It may not be determined until Minnesota takes the field in a week to open its season against South Dakota State.
Currently, the battle is between Brock Walker and Michael Lantz. According to Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press, head coach P.J. Fleck has said neither guy has won the job in camp and neither bring experience to the table.
#Gophers football coach PJ Fleck has not yet named a starting kicker between Brock Walker and Michael Lantz as of Thursday. Fleck talks of not having one fully win job in camp, how neither have experience.
It’s reminiscent of how Fleck handled inexperienced quarterbacks in 2017
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) August 22, 2019
Walker is a redshirt freshman and did not appear in any games for the Golden Gophers in 2018. Lantz is a true freshman out of Georgia.
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Minnesota is looking to replace Emmitt Carpenter, who had an excellent career. Last season, 32 of 73 kickoffs went for touchbacks and he knocked home 17-of-23 field goal attempts. He was also a perfect 43-of-43 on extra point tries.